The Most Disliked Episode of TNG, Season 4: 2021 Edition...

This is a twist on a game that is played here, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Here's the game. The basic idea is your standard elimination game. I'll provide a list of the episodes for each season and you need to eliminate your most favorite or the one you deem the 'best.' Please provide an EXPLANATION for why you are eliminating your choice and be sure to copy and paste the list with your choice removed. Finally, leave at least 2 eliminations by other posters before you eliminate another episode.

No tactical voting! You cannot remove an episode because you feel they would threaten your preferred episode's chance to win. Pretty simple. Enjoy!

Hall of Champions (or Failures?)
2011 - "Shades Of Gray"
2018 - "The Outrageous Okona"
2019 - "Code of Honor"
2021 - "Journey's End"


Season Four -

The Best of Both Worlds, Part II
Family
Brothers
Suddenly Human
Remember Me
Legacy
Reunion
Future Imperfect
Final Mission
The Loss
Data's Day
The Wounded
Devil's Due
Clues
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Night Terrors
Identity Crisis
The Nth Degree
Qpid
The Drumhead
Half A Life
The Host
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption

 

My first save of season 4 (which is a very strong season) is, unsurprisingly for me, "Data's Day".

Never mind the fact it centers on Data, which if you don't know by now is my favorite character, it's a genuinely good, fun episode.

We get the secondary story of O'Brien's wedding, which was fun to see. Nice homage to Kirk's in "BALANCE OF TERROR".

And how can you not love Data learning how to dance?! And Crusher got a fun new nickname that never left my head once I heard it... the 'dancing doctor'.

The Romulan plot was a nice one, and showed just how cunning and smart they are.

I love this episode, from start to finish. And Data's voiceovers were all just pure gold. Especially his last one...

"If being human is not simply a matter of being born of flesh and blood, if it is instead a way of thinking, acting, and feeling, then I am hopeful that one day I will discover my own Humanity. Until then, Commander Maddox, I will continue learning, changing, growing, and trying to become more than what I am."

THIS is why Data represents the very best of STAR TREK, and scifi in general.


The Best of Both Worlds, Part II
Family
Brothers
Suddenly Human
Remember Me
Legacy
Reunion
Future Imperfect
Final Mission
The Loss
The Wounded
Devil's Due
Clues
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Night Terrors
Identity Crisis
The Nth Degree
Qpid
The Drumhead
Half A Life
The Host
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption

 

Rescuing "Night Terrors". While not my favorite S4 episode, most of my faves are pretty safe. This one, while the science was dubious, had some cool bits, especially the morgue scene. I get chills thinking about it.

The Best of Both Worlds, Part II
Family
Brothers
Suddenly Human
Remember Me
Legacy
Reunion
Future Imperfect
Final Mission
The Loss
The Wounded
Devil's Due
Clues
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Identity Crisis
The Nth Degree
Qpid
The Drumhead
Half A Life
The Host
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption

 

"Family"! I really hated it as a kid, and now I consider it a series highlight. Such a beautiful episode, and such an outlier -- I'm so glad it exists.

The Best of Both Worlds, Part II
Brothers
Suddenly Human
Remember Me
Legacy
Reunion
Future Imperfect
Final Mission
The Loss
The Wounded
Devil's Due
Clues
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Identity Crisis
The Nth Degree
Qpid
The Drumhead
Half A Life
The Host
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption

 

Saving "The Wounded" next. We get the introduction of the Cardassians, who play a huge role going forward. We get a great focus on O'Brien. We get a wonderful guest star in Bob Gunton. And as if that isn't enough, we get introduced to the Nebula class starship.

A great deal to love about this one.



The Best of Both Worlds, Part II
Brothers
Suddenly Human
Remember Me
Legacy
Reunion
Future Imperfect
Final Mission
The Loss
Devil's Due
Clues
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Identity Crisis
The Nth Degree
Qpid
The Drumhead
Half A Life
The Host
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption

 

The Drumhead, it's one of the darker episodes of TNG, but also one of the better ones, Norah Satie was an interesting antagonist and I really would have liked to see Simon Tarses again.

The Best of Both Worlds, Part II
Brothers
Suddenly Human
Remember Me
Legacy
Reunion
Future Imperfect
Final Mission
The Loss
Devil's Due
Clues
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Identity Crisis
The Nth Degree
Qpid
Half A Life
The Host
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption

 

I've removed Future Imperfect because it was fun on a bun!

The Best of Both Worlds, Part II
Brothers
Suddenly Human
Remember Me
Legacy
Reunion
Final Mission
The Loss
Devil's Due
Clues
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Identity Crisis
The Nth Degree
Qpid
Half A Life
The Host
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption

 

One of the few stories I'd have let be worst is saved, but The Mind's Eye gets saved. A rather good kidnap/brainwash trope, with mystery surprise character, the setup and execution are great, even if Ron Jones didn't score it.


What's left:
The Best of Both Worlds, Part II
Brothers
Suddenly Human
Remember Me
Legacy
Reunion
Final Mission
The Loss
Devil's Due
Clues
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Identity Crisis
The Nth Degree
Qpid
Half A Life
The Host
In Theory
Redemption

 

I choose to save Remember Me. Surely one of the season's most iconic episodes, and easily Dr Crusher's best episode in the whole of TNG. Wonderful concept, intriguing mystery, and that killer line: "Computer, what is the nature of the universe?" "The universe is a spheroid region 705 metres in diameter".


What's left:
The Best of Both Worlds, Part II
Brothers
Suddenly Human
Legacy
Reunion
Final Mission
The Loss
Devil's Due
Clues
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Identity Crisis
The Nth Degree
Qpid
Half A Life
The Host
In Theory
Redemption

 

Oh god, so many good ones still! It's so hard to decide, so I'll go with the obvious: "Best Of Both Worlds, Part II." I don't really subscribe to the view that this episode is a let-down, I walk away pretty satisfied, and still completely terrified of the Borg! In fact, maybe I'll watch it right now...

Brothers
Suddenly Human
Legacy
Reunion
Final Mission
The Loss
Devil's Due
Clues
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Identity Crisis
The Nth Degree
Qpid
Half A Life
The Host
In Theory
Redemption

 

I'm saving "Brothers". Brent Spiner's acting is reason enough to save this one. The man did THREE roles here, and all perfect.


Suddenly Human
Legacy
Reunion
Final Mission
The Loss
Devil's Due
Clues
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Identity Crisis
The Nth Degree
Qpid
Half A Life
The Host
In Theory
Redemption

 

Saving QPid. One of the rare legitimately funny comedy eps.

Suddenly Human
Legacy
Reunion
Final Mission
The Loss
Devil's Due
Clues
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Identity Crisis
The Nth Degree
Half A Life
The Host
In Theory
Redemption

 

Saving “Clues”. I always like the TNG episodes with that creepy mystery feeling. This one did that well, and it’s another rare Data-centric episode that works for me.


Suddenly Human
Legacy
Reunion
Final Mission
The Loss
Devil's Due
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Identity Crisis
The Nth Degree
Half A Life
The Host
In Theory
Redemption

 

Wow, BOTH of them were going to be my next saves.

Which brings me to saving "Half a Life". Really good episode that takes Lwaxana seriously, because when given serious stuff, she does better than people give her crrdit for. Casting David Ogden Stiers was a stroke of brilliance... they played very well off each other.

And the episode tackles an excellent topic, to boot.


Suddenly Human
Legacy
Reunion
Final Mission
The Loss
Devil's Due
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Identity Crisis
The Nth Degree
The Host
In Theory
Redemption

 

I can’t believe Reunion made it this far. This is one of my favourite episodes; the Worf/K'Ehleyr stuff is amazing, but even better is Picard mediating between Duras and Gowron.

Suddenly Human
Legacy
Final Mission
The Loss
Devil's Due
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Identity Crisis
The Nth Degree
The Host
In Theory
Redemption

 

Phew, most of the stinkers are still there! And a few good ones, but there's no Barclay story that could ever be the winner of "worst", unless he wasn't in it. The Nth Degree is saved for its trope inversion of seeking out new civilizations - by warping brains and luring them into their castle to moohahaha them. Except the Cytherians are goodies and not baddies. The episode is a bit more 'magical' than most, but somehow it works and Dwight Schultz has a knack of playing quite a range of atypical character archetypes so perfectly. Trek was blessed to have him aboard.

What's left:
Suddenly Human
Legacy
Final Mission
The Loss
Devil's Due
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Identity Crisis
The Host
In Theory
Redemption

 

^^this, x1000. Even with Michelle Forbes' TNT plunger hairdo, which is rendered invisible by her strong performance, there's precious little to nitpick* and so much more to appreciate. Majel Barrett sells Lwaxana so incredibly well in this, showing a more serious side that feels 100% natural and complementary of her jovial side as well (very nuanced), and David Ogden-Stiers was perfectly chosen. The topic matter is jaw-dropping, fleshed out with enough tangents (though more could exist, but the episode only has 43 minutes). Arguably influenced by the likes of "Logan's Run" and even the TNG episode "A Matter of Honor" as it has Riker being told there are no old Klingons.... This episode is one of the series' highlights and shows TNG taking a Trek trope of social awareness and innovating it to a more personal/individual level rather than the societal-level TOS largely kept it at (both types are great).


* waah!

 

I'm surprised that First Contact made it this far, it's one of my favourites from season four. I love that it's set from the alien's point of view, which makes Picard and Troi's role in it feel fresh.

Bebe Neuwirth has a great little role as well.

Suddenly Human
Legacy
Final Mission
The Loss
Devil's Due
Galaxy's Child
Identity Crisis
The Host
In Theory
Redemption

 

Gonna safe Devil's Due. When it comes down to it, it is just a very entertaining episode, Picard "stealing Ardra's powers" is particularly fun to watch.

I'm on record saying that I like serious Lwaxana the best, and I agree that it's an excellent episode.

Suddenly Human
Legacy
Final Mission
The Loss
Galaxy's Child
Identity Crisis
The Host
In Theory
Redemption

 

Early season 4 had a knack of using the same basic theme (crewmember is abducted/assaulted), as if taking TBOBW and applying it to other crewmembers, to be resolved in half the time. This time it's Dr Crusher's turn and it's highly innovative.

We see what almost feels like "small universe syndrome" in bringing back a past character ("The Doctor Traveler"), yet his reasoning for being there continues a mini-arc of sorts with Wesley and actually doesn't feel contrived.

The episode tells us in plain sight what's going on right at the start, but does so in such a nuanced way that the viewer doesn't notice until the big plot twist later on. It's really done well.

The claustrophobic and looming nature that increases in the episode ranks right up there with season 2's "Where Silence Has Lease".

The "nature of the universe" line is nothing less than fantastic.

Definitely is Crusher's best episode and a highlight of TNG as well, even more so because 'Where No One Has Gone Before" is one of TNG's early greats that also sets up the Traveler too.

I would have saved it yesterday had time permitted.

It's a very refreshing story, and Carolyn Seymour really has a knack for choosing interesting characters, in TNG and other shows as well -- She's great as the evil leaper hologram from Quantum Leap too! This episode has shades of ST4 TVH except the character staying is not a comic relief character but a three-dimensional one. Would love to have seen a follow-up, which sadly never happened...